# Coyote (*Canis latrans*) Coyotes are clever wild dogs found across North America. They are good hunters and can adapt to many habitats. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 205 - **Habitat:** Grasslands, forests, and urban edges. - **Also known as:** Brush Wolf, Prairie Wolf ![Coyote](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426092/objects/4375.jpg) ## Appearance The Coyote is a medium-sized canine with a slender build, long bushy tail, and prominent pointed ears. Its fur is typically grayish-brown to yellowish-gray, often with a white throat and belly, helping it blend into diverse environments. They look like a smaller, more slender version of a wolf. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Canidae - **Genus:** Canis ## Interesting facts - A single coyote's howl can sound like many more are nearby, tricking other animals! - Coyotes have amazing night vision, helping them hunt for food in the darkest hours! - Their large, swiveling ears can pinpoint tiny sounds, like a mouse rustling, from far away! - They often team up with badgers to hunt, flushing out burrowing prey from underground! ## Special abilities - **Super Communicator:** Coyote has a complex vocal repertoire of howls, yips, and barks that helps them communicate with other coyotes across long distances. - **Adaptation Whiz:** Coyote can thrive in many different environments, from deserts to cities, because of their flexible diet and clever behavior. - **Precision Hunter:** Coyote can hunt small prey with incredible accuracy because of their sharp senses and quick pounces, especially for rodents. - **Swift Runner:** Coyote can reach speeds up to 65 km/h (40 mph), which helps them chase down prey or escape danger quickly. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 80-130 cm - **Weight:** 7-21 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-14 years - **Speed:** 65 km/h - **Litter Size:** 4-10 - **Gestation:** 60-63 days ## Diet & Feeding Coyotes are opportunistic omnivores, eating almost anything from small animals to fruits and trash. - **Primary Foods:** rodents, rabbits, deer (fawns), insects, fruits, carrion - **Foraging Methods:** Pursuit, Foraging, Scavenging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Black-tailed Jackrabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-tailed-jackrabbit) (*Lepus californicus*) — A primary prey animal in many open habitats. - **Hunts:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Coyotes often prey on fawns, helping to control deer populations. - **Symbiotic with:** [American Badger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-badger) (*Taxidea taxus*) — They sometimes hunt together, flushing out burrowing prey from tunnels. - **Hunts:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — Small rodents like voles are a common and important food source for coyotes. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Avoid coyotes — they may see small pets as prey. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Coyote? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Coyote? 80-130 cm ### How much does Coyote weigh? 7-21 kg ### How long does Coyote live? 6-14 years ### How fast can Coyote move? 65 km/h ### What does Coyote eat? Coyotes are opportunistic omnivores, eating almost anything from small animals to fruits and trash. ### Where is Coyote usually found? Grasslands, forests, and urban edges. ### How does Coyote hunt? Pursuit, Foraging, and Scavenging ## Where to spot - [Arroyo Conejo Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arroyo-conejo-open-space) — California, US · Park - [Bellevue Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellevue-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-diamond-mines-regional-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Durso Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/durso-park) — Illinois, US · Park - [Eakin Community Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eakin-community-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/coyote) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Coyote: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote)